Palestinian PM: Jerusalem 'top priority'

New Palestinian Prime Minster Hamdallah visits Temple Mount, hears list of alleged Israeli infringements of Al-Aqsa Mosque, informs Palestinians of plans to implement projects in Jerusalem

"Jerusalem and its holy sites are of the highest priority to the Palestinian Authority's new government," Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said Sunday during a visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Al-Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem.

 

Hamdallah spoke to the Palestinian news agency Ma'an and said that the PA was ready to put into action a number of projects in Jerusalem with the intention of supporting Palestinians, but failed to provide further details.

 

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Hamdallah was escorted by the PA's Jerusalem Governorate governor, Adnan al-Husayni, the Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, the Palestinian Minister of Health, Dr. Jawad Awad and a number of additional PA officials.

 

Mamdallah with entourage

 

During the visit, Hamdallah noted that the PA was attempting to secure additional support in Jerusalem with the help of Arab and international guarantees.

 

He also heard a list of alleged Israeli violations in regards to the mosque and its surrounding vicinity.

 

Hamdallah was appointed to his position by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the beginning of June, several weeks after the previous prime minister, Salam Fayyad, resigned his post amid a growing political rift between him and Abbas.

 

Hamdullah, who is considered a technocrat rather than an ideolog, was the front-runner for the position and his appointment was no surprise.

 

As a representative of Fatah, his appointment was aimed at signaling to Hamas that Abbas has not given up on the possibility to achieve reconciliation between the rival Palestinian factions, despite the stalemate between the two organizations in recent months.

 

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